Thursday, May 18, 2006

1What shall we say then?Are we to continue in sinso that grace may increase?

What shall we say then - This is the obvious question raised by

Romans 5:20, 21

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Should we continue to live under the Law of Moses so that grace might abound all the more?

Are we to continue in sin - The word "continue" is a compound verb meaning to dwell in. Notice that Paul does not say "Are we to continue sinning?" The question is rather "Are we to continue living in the kingdom of sin?" The alternative is the kingdom of grace.

Acts 13:43

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

Throughout this chapter Paul will personify sin as the ruler of a kingdom which opposes the grace of God.

sin- In the Greek "sin" has the definite article and so should be translated "the sin". Paul is referring back to the sin of Adam in the garden which he has been speaking of in chapter 5. So, how could Paul's readers continue in the sin of Adam? It would be by sinning in the same manner as Adam sinned.

Adam wasn't content to rest in God's pleasure. He wanted to please God through his actions. By eating of the tree of knowledge Adam thought that he would be able to contribute to God. This attitude of Adam's was the reason for the Law of Moses which is the Old Covenant. The theme of the entire Bible is to change one's attitude from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant; from trying to please God to resting in God's pleasure.

so that grace may increase - If our sin causes God to be glorified as He demonstrates His grace then we should continue living in the realm of sin ... right?2May it never be! How shall we who died to sinstill live in it?

May it never be - Of course not! This is not a proper conclusion from

Romans 5:20

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more

It seems reasonable that we should continue in the realm of Law and increasing sin so that God's grace might be glorified. The correct conclusion, though, is that God's grace increased so that we might learn to be gracious with ourselves and others, just as He has been gracious with us. Ous grace should abound all the more too. This graciousness is the new life we are to live.

How shall we who died to sin - When did we die to sin? Has Paul discussed this before? Yes he has. When Christ died He died on our behalf or in our place. When He died we died. He died in reference to the kingdom of sin where striving to keep the Law increases sin.

Romans 5:6-8

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

still live in it - We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Let us live lives that are ruled by grace and not by law.

Colossians 1:13

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

3Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesushave been baptized into His death?

Or do you not know - Knowing who we are in Christ is the key to fruitfulness in the Christian life.

Romans 10:3

For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

John 15:4

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

have been baptized into Christ Jesus - Physical baptism is a visual representation of the spiritual truth of our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. Baptism just means total identification or immersion into another. What is true of Christ is now true of us also.

have been baptized into His death - Just as Christ died to the old system so also we have died to the Law as a way of life.

4Thereforewe have been buried with Himthrough baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the deadthrough the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Therefore - Because we were identified with Christ's death.

we have been buried with Him - Our death with Christ included being buried or shut off from our old life.

through baptism into death - Through our identification with Christ's death the Law no longer holds dominion over us.

so that as Christ was raised from the dead - Because the Law had no claim on Christ He was able to rise up from the death required by the Law.

through the glory of the Father - Christ was raised from the dead to bring glory to the Father.

so we too might walk in newness of life - We are to no longer walk under the Law and under fear of death or separation from God's approval. We bring glory to the Father by accepting and living under His unmerited favor.

5For ifwe have become united with Himin the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also bein the likeness of His resurrection,

For if - This is a logical "if" and doesn't imply doubt. It is more like our "since". Paul is saying since we have ... therefore ...

we have become united with Him - Christ is our champion. He provided the victory for us and everything that He had gained is ours as well.

in the likeness of His death - Water baptism illustrates that we have died with Christ to the old covenant world.

Colossians 2:20,21

If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"

certainly we shall also be - If we participated in His death we shall also reap the benefits of His life.

in the likeness of His resurrection - Christ rose to a new abundant life. A life free from the yoke of the Law. Our baptism represents our new life under grace. Why go back to the Law?

6knowing this, that our old selfwas crucified with Him, in order that our body of sinmight be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

knowing this - We rely on revelation for our knowledge of who we are in Christ. There is no experiential way to know. We must trust in His word and not in our experience.

that our old self - Our old self is who we were in Adam. In Adam we were subject to the demands of the Law which resulted in sin and death.

was crucified with Him - When were we crucified with Him? On the cross? When we were water baptized? When we believed? I would answer on the cross.

our body of sin - This is just our old self that was characterized by striving against sin. Our new self is resting in freedom from sin.

might be done away with - This is a word that means "made powerless". Sin has no power over those who have been crucified with Him.

Galatians 5:24

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires

so that we would no longer be slaves to sin - One who is striving to keep the Law is a slave to sin. One who is free from the Law is free from sin.

7for he who has diedis freed from sin.

he who has died - Death moves us from one kingdom to another.

is freed from sin - Dying frees us from the obligations of the kingdom which is ruled by sin. The word for "freed" is literally means "made righteous".

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also livewith Him,

Now if we have died with Christ - Once again, this means that we have died with Christ. There is no uncertainty.

we believe - Our death and life with Christ is a matter of faith. Neither is something we experience directly. We must rely on God's word.

we shall also live - This life is the new life under the kingdom of grace. When we come to understand the freedom we have under God's grace we experience the abundant life God has provided for us.

with Him - Just as Christ has been freed from obligation to the Law through death, we now live in the new kingdom of grace with Him.

9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

knowing that Christ - Our knowledge of our position in Christ and His work enables us to experience the new life under grace.

having been raised from the dead - Christ's resurrection is the proof that Christ was accepted by God as our champion and that we have been freed from the kingdom of death.

Romans 1:4

who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord

is never to die again - Death was the penalty required by the kingdom of Law. Once the penalty has been paid it is satisfied.

death no longer is master over Him - Death is personified as the master of those living under the kingdom of Law. The old covenant is called the ministry of death. Its purpose was to bring us to death so that we could have new life in Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:7

But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was

10For the death that He died, He died to sinonce for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

For the death that He died - Paul focuses in on Christ's experience because He is our representative. What is true of Him is now true of us also.

He died to sin - Sin was master of the old covenant kingdom. Christ's death released Him from obligation to that realm.

once for all - Death ends the master/slave relationship once for all.

but the life that He lives, He lives to God - Now that He is freed from the realm of sin, He is free to live in the realm of God's grace.

Galatians 2:4

But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.

11Even soconsideryourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to Godin Christ Jesus.

Even so - In the same way ... all that is true of Christ is now true of us as well.

consider - Another word for believe. Believe that you are dead to sin. Notice all of the words in the New Testament that are synonyms for consider; believe, receive, repent, trust, be confident, rely, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, set your mind.

yourselves to be dead to sin - We are dead to the sin of Adam, dead to the Law of Moses. Paul's exhortation is to rest in God's pleasure in us as demonstrated by Christ's death for us while we were yet sinners.

alive to God - We were separated from God in Adam. Now we are alive to God. It is just a matter of whether we believe that Christ's death demonstrates His pleasure in us.

in Christ Jesus - Christ died and rose in our place. We have been made alive to God through Him.

12Thereforedo not let sinreignin your mortal bodyso that you obey its lusts,

Therefore - Because we have die to the realm of sin.

do not let sin - This is the sin, the sin of Adam, the sin of trying to please God instead of resting in His pleasure.

reign - Sin reigns when we try to please God and separate ourselves from His pleasure in us.

in your mortal body - Our earthly body is subject to death or separation from God. We have been spiritually united with God forever.

so that you obey its lusts - Sin's desire is that we live under the Law instead of rest in Christ.

13 and do not go on presentingthe members of your bodyto sinas instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to Godas those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

do not go on presenting - Each day we choose whether to rest in God's acceptance or to try to earn His acceptance.

the members of your body - Will our actions express faith or works?

to sin - To the sin of Adam. To the Law which aggravates sinfulness.

as instruments of unrighteousness - We are righteous in Christ. When we step outside of this righteousness and try to earn righteousness we express the sin of Adam. We are instruments or weapons of the Law.

present yourselves to God - Instead we are to present ourselves to God. I picture an knight kneeling before his king presenting his sword for his use. When we rest in Christ's righteousness we become servants of peace and grace. When we present ourselves to the Law we become judges, challenging one another and and ourselves. The Law separates us from God and from one another. Grace unites us to God and one another.

as those alive from the dead - We have been delievered from the kingdom of those separated from God to the kingdom of those who are united to Him in Christ.

and your members as instruments of righteousness to God - Now we are to serve one another in love as those who dwell in God's love.

Ephesians 5:31,32

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

sin shall not be master over you - The sin of Adam is depicted as a master over his slaves.

you are not under law but under grace - Under law means a slave to law. Under grace means a slave to grace. All of our thoughts and actions are to be directed by God's grace toward us.

15What then? Shall we sinbecause we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!

What then-Now we have the question that throws everybody, even today!

Shall we sin - Not shall we continue in the sin but shall we sin at all.

because we are not under law but under grace - Since law is no longer our master, what will keep us from sinning?

May it never be - As odd as it may sound, grace, not law is the answer to the sin problem.

16Do you not knowthat when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

Do you not know -

that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience -

Galatians 5:1

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

you are slaves of the one whom you obey -

Galatians 5:7

You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?

either of sin resulting in death -

Galatians 5:3,4

Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.

or of obedience resulting in righteousness -

Galatians 5:4-6

You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,

Romans 1:5

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake

18and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

Galatians 5:18-21

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22,23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

Philippians 3:3,4

for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:

21Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.

Galatians 5:2

Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you

Philippians 3:5-8

circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ

22But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

Philippians 3:9

and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 3:10,11

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.